The Contestants |
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The Breakdown |
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Kills
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Kills
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How you think the fight will go: Rand al’Thor
Written by Brock Crouse
He knelt in the clearing, head bowed, his one hand resting lightly on the heron etched into the hilt of his sword. A heron, he thought, if only I could take wing and fly away. He took a deep breath, inhaling the sense of emptiness he always felt here. Better to feel empty than to feel the other, he mused, beginning to rise from his prone position. He sought the void as he rose, wishing to extend the emptiness he felt. In a way it helped him to deal with the pressure by escaping for a time. As soon as the flame formed in his mind he felt all emotion dissipate and his senses heightened. He tucked into a roll as a spear the size of a sapling grazed his back and stuck quivering in the ground. He came up smoothly, steel naked in his hand.
“Al’Thor!” The roar echoed across the too empty glade, a few swallows bursting from the treetops in fright. A monstrous steel clad man stepped into the clearing. He drew a great-sword from his back with one hand, a weapon too large for most men to even lift. “This ends now.”
Rand’s mind raced as he assumed Cat Crossing the Courtyard, a stance that portrayed a confidence he lacked. A darkfriend, come to kill me while I’m blocked? he wondered. Rand glanced out of the clearing to where he could see the edge of the Ogier town that blended into the forest itself. Determined to lead the man away from his friends, he charged. Boar Rushes Down the Mountain caused the large man’s stride to halt as he held the great sword across his body in defense. Sparks flew as Rand’s blade scraped across the larger sword. Rand continued to send out strikes that were meant only to distract the giant as he skirted towards the other end of the clearing. With the town now to the knight’s back he slowed his swings and took a step back.
“Who are you? To attack me like this without cause. Do you not know who I am?” Rand asked. The larger man pulled the visor of his helm up. It revealed a square, blunt face as hard as the steel he wore. The man turned and spat on the ground. “Oh I know of the mighty Dragon Reborn. But here, here you are just another man and Gregor Clegane has never met a man he couldn’t ride to the ground like a dog.”
He knows, Rand thought, he knows of the Stedding. Can I make it out of its grasp? Do I want to? His train of thought was shattered along with the void as The Mountain That Rides sprang forward. Rand dropped to one knee as the huge blade whistled over his head. He struck out once, twice at the creases in the steel armor at each knee. His blade twisted into the mesh but he could not score a solid hit. He rolled to the right as the giant’s sword plunged to the ground. Rand danced back a few more steps toward the edge of the Stedding as the Mountain pulled his sword free.
Rand continued to retreat a few steps with each exchange of strokes. He moved back slowly, hoping the man did not realize how easily the Dragon was giving up ground. Gregor no longer spoke or taunted Rand. He merely grunted with each heavy swing of his sword. It arched in from every angle, impossibly fast for such a cumbersome weapon. Twice Rand almost lost his life when he misjudged how quickly the Mountain could change direction. Gregor stepped into a massive side swing from Rand’s right. The red haired man threw his sword out desperately to stop the momentum. As soon as Gregor felt contact between the blades he altered his attack downwards. As Rand dipped lower to continue the parry the Mountain stepped forward. Rand’s blade was pinned downwards and he could not pull it free with Gregor so close. The giant’s head lashed forward so quickly that Rand never even saw it hit him. He merely felt a wave of pain as his nose crumpled with a crunch and blood sprayed out from his face. The young man threw himself back from his attacker, his blade sliding free from its confinement. He set his blade through Whirlwind on the Mountain to gain some breathing room. He gingerly felt his nose and winced as he felt the broken cartilage. He stood a few feet from the edge of the clearing into the deeper wood where the Ogier’s influence ended.
He spat the blood from his mouth that had pooled there and stared at the man across from him who stood calmly, as if the battle already won. If I lose here, if I die, all humanity is lost he thought. I will win, if only to keep those I love from harm. Oh Min. Thank the Light I forbade her from coming this time. That was the last thought that crossed Rand’s mind as he sought the void. The flame rose up in his mind brighter than he had ever seen it. That light must have shown through his eyes as the Mountain took a small step back. The pain from his nose still throbbed, but it was no longer of worth, skating across the outside of the void.
“You will not have them,” Rand spoke, his voice barely a whisper. Gregor leaned in almost as if to catch what had been said, but leapt backwards just as fast as the Dragon’s blade scraped across his breastplate sending a whining pitch through the edge of the clearing. Rand’s sword became a blur as he went through every form that Lan had ever beaten into him. The two men spun back and forth until the Mountain stood with his back to the edge of the forest. It was now Gregor who gave ground. Every stroke of the heron marked blade forced the Mountain another step into the deep wood. Reaping the Barley pushed the eldest son of House Clegane back into a thick cropping of oaks, the trunks so close that the knight could not fully swing his great-sword.
Rand pressed his advantage, sparks cascading from the knight’s armor as the Dragon rent cracks wherever his blade fell. As Gregor stumbled from the clump of trees his foot caught a root and he fell backwards. Rand surged forward and drove his blade down. His blade pierced the left portion of the Mountain’s breastplate, sliding through armor, flesh and bone until Rand could push no farther. He stood over the knight, only to be shocked when he felt himself being thrown over the prone man with a kick to the midriff. He slipped his blade free from the breastplate with a screech.
Rand staggered to his feet, holding a blade drenched in crimson. He stared in disbelief as the Mountain That Rides pushed himself to his feet, blood flowing slowly from the rent in his breastplate. The man began to laugh at the look on the Dragon’s face. “Like I said–only a man.” Rand involuntarily took a step back at the cold malice coming from the knight.
As he stepped back he felt that familiar feeling of being dipped in a tub of ice and the Source rushed back in. I made it out of the Stedding’s reach. I can channel Saidan again, but it must not come to that, he thought. He took a deep breath, every scent and every sound amplified a hundred fold. With it came the pain rushing back in from his nose. He pushed it aside as no more than an inconvenience.
“One last chance, Clegane. I wish only to spend my time here in peace. Leave and it is done,” Rand said calmly, riding the crashing waves of Saidin as it threatened to swallow him. Gregor pulled the helm from his head and started laughing again.
“Not only a man, but a stupid one at that. I have raped and killed more wenches than you will bed in ten lifetimes. I hear that you have a few on your heartstrings. Mayhaps this Min would like to spend an evening with me, or Elayne or Aviendha,” Gregor said, the smile on his face pitiless and cruel.
As the last word left Clegane’s mouth the void shattered and one emotion swept in as if a tidal wave: Rage. It coursed through the Dragon Reborn. “You will not touch them!” He roared. A small voice in the back of his mind moaned, Oh, Ilyena, as he drew the Source to him. He drank it in as if a man parched for months. It filled him until his bones began to shake from the exertion. When he thought he could no longer hold it another second he thrust his sword out towards the Mountain and a bar of solid light, strong as iron and brighter than the sun, enveloped the man. When the light slipped away nothing stood as evidence that the Mountain That Rides had ever been there.
Rand reached up and felt his nose. It was whole, without a blemish. He rubbed it ruefully and began to trudge back to the Ogier town.
How you think the fight will go: The Mountain That Rides
Written by Austin Noller
The battlefield was set. People filled the stands. And the Mountain that Rides stood alone waiting for his opponent. Ser Gregor Clegane scowled across the field, with his hand on his greatsword, his helm underneath his arm, and his shield resting against his leg.
The Suvudu “gods” had transported him to a place called “Earth.” Supposedly, both he and his opponent had millions of fans here, yet how they had learned of his infamous exploits from another world was beyond him. The “gods” chose this place to make things a bit more even between him and his opponent. His opponent was some great sorcerer called “The Dragon Reborn.” He didn’t think he needed things to be even. He had killed that witch Morgan le Fay and even the undead bloodsucker, Dracula. What was one more measly sorcerer? Still, he’d take what these “gods” gave him.
To be honest, Ser Gregor was looking forward to killing another “dragon.” It had been too long since he had killed that Targaryen whelp of Rhaegar’s. He had often dreamed about going across the Narrow Sea and taking care of the dragonspawn Daenerys and Viserys for King Robert, but had deemed the risk not worth the reward.
This “Dragon Reborn” would do for now.
He was beginning to grow impatient when he saw a flash of light and an odd hole appear on the other end of the battlefields.
Rand and Min took a careful step out from the gateway and surveyed the arena. The battlefield comprised of a strange, stiff grass that looked unnaturally green. Around them, thousands of seats ringed the field.
“Blood and Ashes!” Rand exclaimed. “This place is large enough to house all of my Aiel.” Screaming fans filled the seats and the crowd was spotted with signs for both him and his opponent.
“Watch your mouth, sheepherder” Min scolded. But her heart wasn’t truly in the admonition, as she too was awed by the immensity of arena they found themselves in.
“Min, please go sit over on that bench over there, I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“Fine, but I can take care of myself.” She stalked towards the bench, muttering about “wool-headed fools”
With her safely aside, Rand finally looked at his opponent, some Westerosi knight called the Mountain that Rides. He was one of the biggest men Rand had ever seen. He was almost eight feet tall with shoulders like an ox. He wore unremarkable black plate armor and his hands rested on a monstrous two-handed greatsword. The oddest thing about him was that he had a shield—adorned with three black dogs on a yellow field—resting against his legs. How was he supposed to use a two-handed greatsword and a shield?
Yet, what made Rand wary the most was the man’s eyes. The Mountain’s gaze seemed to penetrate deep into Rand’s soul. Min was always claiming he was growing too hard. He always responded that he needed to be hard, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to do what needed doing at the Last Battle. Yet, Gregor’s eyes were as hard and unshakeable as the mountains he was depicted as, even harder than Rand himself. What disturbed Rand the most about the man was the fire behind those eyes. A fire fueled by rage and the pleasure taken from others’ anguish. Rand had hated the idea of being in this match in the first place, because to kill a man—especially just for sport—was simply not something his conscience could condone.
But looking at these eyes, it was possible that this knight was perhaps no man at all, but a monster.
And monsters Rand could kill.
Gregor watched as the Dragon Reborn and his women walked out of the shining hole. He had seen the portal before when Jamie Lannister had fought Rand, but never from this close. It truly was an impressive feat of magic and he realized his steel wouldn’t protect him from magic that powerful. He had seen what this Dragon’s magic did to other knights that were clad in full armor, and he had no desire to follow in their footsteps to the grave.
Gregor had spoken with that vicious dwarf Tyrion Lannister after his brother’s humiliating defeat. They had gone over the strengths and weaknesses of the Dragon Reborn and found one glaring weakness. “This battle is already over,” thought the Mountain, “he just doesn’t know it yet.” Gregor Clegane began to strip off his armor.
Rand glanced over at Min lovingly. Thank the Light Elayne and Aviendha hadn’t come. Elayne would have urged Rand not to fight and Aviendha would have insisted on fighting the knight herself. Min had still berated him for agreeing to this fight, but Suvudu had promised him this would be the last time.
With that, he turned back to his opponent and saw a strange sight for a knight preparing for battle: the Mountain was taking off all his armor, leaving only a leather jerkin and his chainmail for protection. Not that his armor would have helped him anyway. Rand guessed this was an attempt to be faster, but how fast could a man that large be? Regardless, one quick blast of balefire should do the trick. But judging on how his gateway had rapidly winked out, one blast might be all the Power this place contained. He had learned that the hard way when he fought Jamie Lannister in Westeros.
Rand called over to the Mountain, “I’ll give you one last chance to surrender, otherwise I will kill you. I have the Last Battle to prepare for and no time to spare for you.” The Mountain answered with a cold glare full with hatred and malevolence. Rand sighed. “Fine, let’s get this over with; I have to get back to my world.” He finished just as a loud voice filled the arena.
“Ladies and Gentleman, today Suvudu.com is proud to present the winners of the Cage Matches Rand Al’Thor, The Dragon Reborn and Ser Gregor Clegane, The Mountain that Rides.” The crowd went wild as the names were announced. “The rules are simple, fight until one of you dies or yields—this is no holds bar match. Ready? Fight!”
Rand let loose a bar of whitehot balefire that crackled the air as it went by. He was sure he would destroy the Mountain with one shot. To his surprise, the Mountain had anticipated his balefire and had begun running to the side even as the announcer finished his speech. Now there was a hole in the wall of the stadium and part of the stands were starting to collapse. Fans in that area screamed in fear and pain; fans in other parts of the stadium screamed in excitement and bloodlust. Rand tried balefire again but it fizzled out before he could even form the weaves.
“Well if balefire won’t work, let’s see if he can dodge lightning.” Rand loosed a few bolts of lightning towards the Mountain, but to his surprise, they all arced away from him and towards the man’s armor piled safely away from the knight. “Blood and Ashes, I guess I’ll have to use fire.”
As he began his weave, Rand noticed that the Mountain was still running, but not towards him. He was heading towards the crowd…he was heading towards Min. Rand launched fireball after fireball at the Mountain, as well as many lightning bolts—but they all missed. This Mountain was much faster than his appearance would have indicated and Rand was so distracted by the Mountain’s apparent target that he was unable to account for that speed. He launched attacks until he exhausted the Power this land had.
The Mountain ran towards this Dragon’s woman. He was foolish to bring her with him. He had dodged and outran all the attacks the Dragon threw at him until finally he reached her. He seized the woman by the throat and lifted her high so everyone could see. Suddenly knives appeared in the girl’s hand and she started stabbing at his arm even as he started to squeeze her neck. For all the stabbing the girl did, it was of no consequence—she might as well have been a bee stinging an elephant. Ser Gregor Clegane took delight in the sight as he saw the light go out of her eyes, crushed out of her throat by his hand around her neck. He heard her last gasps for breath. Only then did he hear the wailing of the Dragon Reborn.
Rand screamed in deep pain and sadness, “Miiiiiinnnn!” Rand dropped to his knees as the Mountain tossed Min’s limp corpse towards him. “Min. Ilyena my love, I’ve killed you.” Rand sobbed holding Min’s lifeless body in his arms.
Ser Gregor Clegane, The Mountain that Rides, stalked towards the sniveling man, more pathetic than a Targaryen whelp. “This is your Last Battle, Dragon Reborn.” And the Mountain that Rides lifted his greatsword and cleaved Rand al’Thor in two.
Ser Gregor walked slowly towards the crowd, “Now I’ll go see if these Suvudu Gods can bleed.”
Predicted Winner: ???
NOTE: THIS MATCH ENDS ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 2, 2011, AT 5 PM, ET
Check out the Cage Match 2010 Bracket
Check out the Cage Match—Villains! Bracket
Rand al’Thor is a character from the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson; Ser Gregor Clegane (The Mountain That Rides) is a character from the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin
Rand image courtesy of Seamas Gallagher; Mountain That Rides image courtesy of Michael Komarck.
Interesting write-ups, but I have to say that Rand wins this.
MTR going for Min was devious, but I really doubt that Min would have come along – she knows when she shouldn’t interfere, she has some common sense.
The problem with this fight is that it’s (as of Book 13) Rand al’Thor, the strongest a male channler can be, at the height of his power and knowledge and now SANE man who is on course to challenge a Supernatural diety. VS. Gregor Clegane, a really tall and strong guy who is not very reasonable and not so special other than the before mentioned.
Rand would win without a doubt. The only way he could lose is if it is written in for him to lose in some unrealistic manner or if outside matters are brought in that pose no relevence to a 1v1 fight.
I predict this will turn into a aSoIaF vs. WoT kind of thing though… Both are awesome series in their own respects, best not try to compare then.
(oh and to point out errors in the write-ups, Rand wouldn’t use balefire anymore since his revelations, it would have been just way easier to wrap him up in a weave of air and tie it off and let Clegane starve to death. That would be almost as suitable as him dying slowly to poision as in the book.
)
I’m voting for the Mountain, ’cause I got tired of reading the Robert Jordon series after awhile. George Martin’s series, on the other hand, is one I can’t wait to read more of.
Plus I never could stand super powered Mary Sue, “I can win anything because I’m super duper and always right’ type characters. If nothing can hurt them, what’s the point, ya know?
The Mountain gon’ do to that little spellworm what he done to Elia of Dorne.
Black Bumblebee. u do know that Rand has two unheal-able wounds, lost a hand, went insane for a book or two, and his vision went blurry for a while (because what caused him to lose a hand was so bright) so yeah u’re right. nothing can hurt him, oh wait….thats right, he’s going to DIE in the last battle.. shows how much u read huh?
and insertnamehere is right. all he has to do in tie him up with air. not hard at all. i mean the guy cant channel so he isnt any competition.
Rand al’Thor..The Champion of the Light, The Car’a'carn, The Cooramor, Shadowkiller,Lord of the Morning, Prince of the Dawn, True Defender of the Light…The Dragon Reborn.
He has my vote. Tai’shar Manetheren!!
@ Lisa Hayward you forgot to iinclude Wool-Headed Mule in that list. But yhea, Rand definetly has my vote. Especially the new Rand Sedai version, totally unstoppable. The Mountain is just a mole-hill in this one.
here is how i think the fight will go……
Rand Vs Gregor
Sir Gregor Clegane walked slowly out of his tent, still marveling at his miraculous victory against that disgusting demon Reaper. In this bloody tournament he was forced to fight many powerful opponents, opponents that he couldn’t have defeated, but luck was at his side in all the fights and he had won, ”I have bloody used it all up in the last fight” he murmured, now there was no chance of him winning, he was against Rand Al’thor the man who defeated Sir Jaime Lannister along with his six most powerful warriors chosen by Tryion, what chance did he have against such a man?
He had spoken to Tryion, as he heard the rumors that Rand was mad, But he was disappointed Tryion had said ”the Dragon Reborn is no longer ‘mad’, never fully was. And now he is more power than when he had defeated Jaime and others”, then he tried to invite Rand to Westeros to gain some Advantage but bloody Al’thor refused it saying that ’some Dark One would have Randland if he left ,he didn’t believe that bullshit but he had to return the honor that Rand had given to them by coming and fighting in Westeros against sir Jaime, that had made his small sliver of hope die. he did not challenge Rand to Trial of seven because he knew that he would be refused and dishonored, if he was going to die he would atleast die with honor, He was not afraid of death he was Sir Gregor Clegane the Mountain that Rides the Biggest and the strongest knight in seven kingdoms and he was not afraid of Death.
He had not taken his horse with him, since he knew that it would do him no good, he had his full steel amour on, his Great six feet sword at his back his enormous shield in his left arm along with is cylindrical helmet with a ‘- -’ shaped opening for eyes.
He walked out of his tent and was greeted by golden haired Jaime Lannister and Drawf Tryion Lannister they escorted him to the arena.
Arena was a huge temporary structure created by Suvudu on the plains between Huge mountain the Dragonmount and the beautiful city of tar’valon, as he entered the arena, Cheers rose from his escort of 500 knights from Westeros that formed the small part of ring of the spectators, The spectators included thousands of Black veiled men in gray and brown clothes tall by regular standards but short by his, there were soldiers in white cloaks and burnished armours, and variety of different looking people in differing dressing patterns, there were hundreds black coated Asha’man that were wizards here and Aes Sedai wearing colorful clothes and shawls, disapproving frown on most of their faces those were witches here and along their sides were their warders with color shifting cloaks that made hard to spot, were eyeing everyone dangerously specially the Knights from Westeros.
He was greeted by a short balding stout referee in black and white horizontally striped shirt and tight black breeches and shiny black boots. ”Lord Rand will be a few minutes late you can wait here” and with that he was off.
He studied the arena there were four large rectangular things put on by suvudu in which he could see himself standing along with the entire arena.
But the Randland disturbed him there was dead grass at his feet even though it was spring here according to locals and the sky was covered with Black cloud which could break spirit of any man, Land looked as if it was dying,’ maybe Al’thor was telling the truth’ he thought.
Then after few minutes a thin white line appeared in the open space in the middle of the arena and it expanded creating a gateway in the air large enough for a wagon to pass through and group of people walked through it quarreling.
There was a boy with red hair and one hand, half head taller than rest of boys but two head shorter than him, boy was dressed in worn brown cloak and clothes that looked as if belonged to a farmer but the way he stood, talked and his beautiful hilted sword looked as if it belong to a king, he looked as if trying to convince the seven women that were with him, a broad boy with curly hair and short beard in fine clothes and a regal looking huge war hammer on his side was frowning, a mischievous looking boy with one eye in green coat with broad brimmed hat a red scarf around his neck, he was leaning on his black spear with a mischievous smile on his face, there was one short women with long dark braid in yellow dress with Green belt and she was clutching her braid so tight her knuckles were white, another girl wearing a seven colored stole around her neck and blue dress, one was a pregnant queen with golden hair and rose crown on her head and beautiful red dress, another women in brown coat and breeches with short brunette hair and one tall red haired girl in white woolen blouse and brown skirts, one short pale pretty women with age less face with a blue gem in center of her fore head that match the color of her dress and another tall with ageless face and grey hair.
Arguing the walked near enough for him to hear what the long braided women was saying ”Rand Al’thor , you woolheaded Idiot u should not fight this, i know u have killed ten thousands trollocs alone , but what if you crack a skull here and die?” the other women agreed and the gray hair one said ”Phaw! And you tells me not to call him a boy any more , boy-”, she was cut off by Al’thor’s Loud sigh
and he said softly with a gentle smile ” Min ,Elayne, Egwene, Moiraine, Aviendha, Nyneave and Cadsuian Sedai , I appreciate your concern but I have given my word to suvudu and nothing you say will make me change my mind”
”now if u will please go out of the arena I have a battle to fight” with a sniff the six women stalked out of the arena, one name Min remained she gave Al’thor a quick hug and went off, the muscular boy gave Al’thor a pat on back and went off the turned half way and said ”are you planning to watch the fight from the centre of the arena Mat?” but Mat waved him off and stood beside Al’thor, after Perrin was out of earshot, he whispered to Al’thor with a grin ”you better win this Rand, I have wagered bloody thousand andoran gold coins on you” and went of grinning, Al’thor was grinning now. His gray green eyes turned to Gregor, he face was boyish but those eyes were of wise man, smile on Al’thor’s face vanished as he studied him; but then he realized that the Gloomy clouds were moving and sunlight was streaming in the brown grass in the arena was turning fresh green, he felt his strength and determination grow in him, he put on his helmet and unsheathed his great sword as a sign that he was ready.
Al’thor smiled a said ”lets Begin” to himself and then his voice blooming by some magic he said ‘’start the formalities and let it begin”
And from if eye holes of his helmet Gregor saw the referee approaching them with a strange small black device with silver head in his hand.
*****
Perrin walked hastily towards the special seating arranged for them on the raised platform which gave them the best of the two Big Rectangular Ter’angreals which showed the entire arena, he turned back to see what Mat was up to, he saw Mat hurrying towards him he slowed his pace to allow Mat catch up, when mat caught up with him he asked him “what are you up to Matt? You look way too happy.”
Mat saw him suspiciously then said “nothing….. walk fast or we might end up getting caught in the fight”., Perrin sighed and walked towards the seats
When they reached the seats every one was sitting except Cadsuane ,Nyneave and Moiraine. Cadsuane was pacing at the space at the back of the seats muttering, Nynaeve was leaning on a pole of the clutching her braid and had a frown on her face that could have scared trollocs off, Moiranie was standing next to Nyneave looking terribly worried and more pale than usual.
‘naturally she would be worried’ Perrin thought ‘she spent so much time with those Elfeen and Alfeen to save the world only to come and learn that Rand was risking the life uselessly for second time’. he took his seat next to Faile, Mat took one next to him
The entire seating smelled worried and angry except Mat he smelt worried and excited!
With his improved vision it was easy to see what was going on the field, The knight ‘Gregor’ had his Huge sword in hand and had put helmet on his head and was ready, if Rand wasn’t a channeler, he would have been really worried about him , the size of Gregor was huge, Rand looked like child in front of him, Rand said something to Gregor and then with a Weave of One Power to make his voice loud, he announced “start the formalities and let it begin” as soon as he finished deafening cheers rose from the entire arena, referee reached rand with strange ter’angreal called mike in his hand which could magnify sound, and spoke “Ladies & Gentlemen, welcome to the Special Suvudu Cage Match”
“On the left side of the arena” Referee said pointing to Gregor with his left hand “is the winner of Cage Match Villains, a Mountain that Rides, Sir Gregor Clegane from Westeros”.
Shifting his mike to his left hand Referee said ” to the Right side of the arena” he said pointing to Rand with his right hand ” is the Winner of Cage Match 2010, the Prince of the Dawn, the Lord of the Morning ,the Dragon Reborn, Rand Al’thor from Randland”.
“The rules of the match are simple” the referee continued
“You win, if you kill your opponent or your opponent gives up, now both of the warriors can take their places and ready their weapons, the fight starts when I blow this horn”.
The referee hurried to his place and held the horn to mouth and waited for the warriors to take their places and ready themselves.
Gregor and Rand were standing about 30 feet apart, Rand had his sword out in his hand he was standing erect with other stumped hand behind his back.
The referee waited a few seconds the seeing that they were ready he blew the
horn.
Gregor charged forward like a rampaging bull and swung his massive sword to strike Rand, Rand jumped back out the way swiftly and Gregor made a second strike towards Rand ducked out the way and slashed his sword diagonally upward to cut off knight’s arm but the Gregor parried in the nick of time and backed off slightly.
As Perrin had guessed, Gregor was just a big brute with average sword skill and ample of strength and size but he was not fast enough to meet a blade master as skilled and agile as Rand.
Gregor charge again slashing and swing his huge sword to strike at Rand but dodging quickly and attacking him at irregular intervals, Perrin knew that Rand could not deflect such heavy attacks with single hand so he dodging them instead parrying them. This continued long, with one more clash Rand to give a hard blow to the giant’s helmet denting it, then made a attempt to stab at his gut but he Gregor escaped with by throwing himself back and throwing Rand back with his large shield, there was again a distance of thirty feet between the warriors, Gregor was panting heavily leaning on his huge sword, Rand was standing erect with sword still in his hand he did look tired though.
Gregor straightened himself lifted his huge sword, staggered and almost fell but caught his balance and stood with some difficulty, ‘the blow must have hurt his head’ Perrin thought.
Gregor shook his head and removed his helmet, there was some blood flowing from left side of his head, still staggering a little he dropped his shield and taking the sword in both his hand he charged forward towards Rand, Perrin knew that Gregor had no chance now with head hurt and no shield to guard him.
Gregor stopped abruptly in the middle of his charge and rose a few feet in air and floated toward Rand and stopped a few feet apart from the Rand, Rand lifted his sword touching neck of the knight with his face grim, the entire arena seemed silent Min smelled more worried now, so did Cadsuane and Nynaeve.
*****
Gregor watched little frightened as the Al’thor’s sword touched his neck, Boy’s face was grim as he studied him, ’May be he expects me to beg for life or close my eyes afraid of death.’ Gregor thought, but the boy would be disappointed, he was Sir Gregor Clegane the strongest knight in Westeros, he may have lost but he would still die with Honor, with his open watching his own death.
Al’thor studied him a little more and slid the sword into the sheathe and raised his hand up with palm pointing toward the sky. ‘So he is going kill me by calling down lightning’ Gregor thought with a slight shiver, but Al’thor drew him close and whispered “I fought you because I had given my word to suvudu and I had offended the honor of your people when I fought Jaime last time for that I am sorry”
Rand continued “you may be wicked but you are no Darkfriend and I won’t kill any human unless I absolutely must.” He smiled “after all I am not a weapon, it took me long enough to understand” he said smiling to himself .
Rand stepped back a few paces with hand still up and with the magic that magnified his voice he said “I Give Up”.
*****
It took some time for Perrin to understand what had just happened, he smiled as he heard the entire arena erupted in applause and cheers, Nynaeve, Min had tears in their eyes. “Phaw! So he really has grown up” Cadsuane muttered hiding her joy with much difficulty, in the midst the cheering Mat cursed loudly “Bloody and Bloody ashes! Rand!” every one stared at Mat in disbelief as he continued “I lost My thousand gold coins”, and suddenly the smell of anger ,danger and disbelief grew every where around him.
the predicted winner of the cage match is Gregor Clegane
I forgot to mention one point.
Out of context like this Rand is very overpowered. Howeveer, in the context of Randland that doesn’t pose so much relevence. See it doesn’t matter how much of the OP he can channel since the OP itself has no true effect vs. the Dark One except to get tainted. The only advantage of being the most powerful channeler in WoT is that so far it has made everyone listen to him (or forced to listen) and to rally behind him to fight the Dark One. So really Rand alone wouldn’t be able to do jack squat vs. the Dark One alone. He needs everyone else.
It’s some what the same situation for Clegane. Out of context like this puts him very underpowered. In the context of Westeros he is a very competent fighter being one of the biggest guys around. He also commands a part of the Lannister army which puts him into power to do the terrible things he does, which defines his character as a villian.
Too bad most people won’t realize this and will just continue to complain on how overpowered Rand is and continue to bash WoT. If that’s the case I think you completely missed a huge concept in WoT which actually makes the story good.
Happy voting and may the best fanboys win!
People, Rand would not even use his sword or one power. He’s a very, very strong taveren and all he has to do is simply wish for Mount’s heart to stop and it would….sooooooo, can we get Rand against someone really strong in magic/power next time…oh I don’t know, say Dark One or at least Elminster….
Kneel Before the Dragon.
Or
You shall be Knelt.
@Shadowsbane – I like your alternate write up, it’s realistic. I mean sure Rand is all powerful and stuff but his new found wisdom would probably result in something like this
thanks
@Shadow’s Bane: Right on the money. Rand would win simply by not fighting. MTG would play dirty (just like Lannister did), but in the end Rand would win.
i also like shadow’s bane’s version. i mean Rand won the fight but gave up because the man’s not evil (in the WoT sense anyway)
hey when does the voting end?
Voting ends January 2nd (it’s in the post, above the links to the brackets)
Just look at their resumes for this fight. Its a joke. Rand is listed as having enough power to snuff out all life. This so-called mountain has the ability to swing a two-handed sworded one-handedly…and isn’t afraid? Please.
There is no way Rand can lose to anyone but the Dark One at this point. Being the strongest channeler alive, and more importantly, now being SANE, he is an unstoppable force. He wouldn’t use balefire anymore. He wouldn’t have let the knight run around like that. His first move would have been to wrap him in air. Anything after that would have ended it.
…That is, assuming, he does not exert his seeming new found power over his ta’avern abilities to just MAKE the knight surrender.
Wow, I really didn’t think this thing would turn into a rout. But it looks like thats what its shaping up to be,
Shadow’s bane, I love your version. And it’s updated, plus points for that.
Poor mat, though.
I’d say the only thing that The Mountain has going for him is that if he did come up agaisnt Rand there is a chance that being a villian the Dark One might just give him access to the “True Power” which is what I suspect he did to Rand (though I have not yet read the latest book this is just a theory) I think it’d be the closest thing to a challenge that Rand could be offered here, though on second thought its seems more likely that Rand would simply be overwhelmed by a desire to use the new power to kill the Knight thus effectivly shifting his alignment closer to the Dark One
I like alot of the post. I thing a writer would have a lot of fun putting together some of the fans thoughts. I really like the thought of using Min against Rand and I REALLY think the post about the Dark One grandting Cleglane the One Power was The Best concept to defeating Rand. I love both series but Really? Clegan stands no chance, unless u let the fans tell u how. We love both series. And WE know the weaknesses. Read the replies then write a story. BECOUSE NOW THE STUFF HITS THE FANS….THATS ALL THAT BRANDON HAS DONE. HE IS WAY OVER HIS HEAD AND HE LURKS THE BLOGS AND TAKES THE BASIC SCRIPT RJ LEFT. True. BUT He has some ok stuff. Sad that this is what we have to settle for. I WOULD BUY THE MARTIN BOOK BEFORE MOL. I would if they were available at the same time. My thoughts.
Let’s put it this way: Gregor is about the size of a Trolloc. Rand recently destroyed around a hundred thousand Trollocs at Maradon in the newest book.
@senbonzakura
LoL
I totally agree with u
Rand Balefires the Mountaint that rides with a beam of white hot light, brighter than the sun evaporting him backwards through time. Rand then looks to the audience sitting in stunned silence and bellows, “Are you not entertained?”
The Tourney Creators at Suvudu realize they have missed a vast resevoir of honestly competetive foes for Rand by ignoring Steven Erickson’s Malazan series… they read this series and say “Hey, instead of setting up stupid one sided fights with a Steven Segal character against a non-Steven Segal character, let’s pick any of a half dozen such characters from a great epic series and see what happens to the Dragon reborn when The First Sword of the Empire confronts him with an Otataral blade that renders all magic useless and watch Rand get his face owned by Dassem Ultor… or Karsa Orlong… or Anomander Rake the Son of Darkness”… the list goes on…
good Fantasy Novel titles for Suvudu to refer when they select the contestents for next Cage match
1.Lord of the Rings
2.Wheel of Time
3.A Song of Ice and Fire
4.Harry Potter
5.Name of the Wind i.e King Killer Chronicles
6.chronicles of Narnia
7.Inheritance Cycle
8.His Dark Materials
9.Temeraire
10.Sword of Truth
11.Drenden files
12.Mazalan book of the fallen
13.Dracula
14.picture of Doroian grey
15.strange case of Dr.jeryll and Mr.hugo
16.frankistien
17.Shrike
18.Chutulu
19.Wizard of the Earthsea
20.Sharnnara Books
21.Conan Chronicles
22.StarWars
23.Mistborn
24.Way of the Kings
25.Elantriz
26.Altaraz
27.Percy Jackson
28.Toilet saga
These are all i know
Please add to the list
I made my own write-up on my blog, but I definitely think it should be obvious Rand will win this. However, like someone above said, I really expected all the fanboys (of both series) to come screaming, and make this a bit closer match. So far, it’s looking like Rand will win by an extremely comfortable margin.
Here’s my write-up if anyone’s interested:
http://atreacherousmemory.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/theres-no-logical-reason-why-rand-shouldnt-win-this-suvudu-cage-match/
This is a spoiler for the most recent WOT book, I would feel bad if i didn’t warn you.
After what Rand did at Maradon, literally destroying a force of 100,000 Trollocs alone (think huge orks) it is pretty safe to bet nothing short of a Demi-god would be able to stand up to him. That and Mountain appears to be entirely physical. Physical doesn’t do so well against the OP, Rand could win by simply tying him in air and rendering him helpless.
@Black Bumblebee: If you’re going to try and insult Robert Jordan’s writing style at least get the literary term right. Happy holidays. :]
Whoever wrote the “Rand loses” scenario, I don’t think they understand that weaving the OP is basically as fast as thought.
Not really a fair fight at all.. Shadow’s Bane’s scenario is the most realistic, however I had to vote for al’Thor, since he quite obviously would win. For the second scenario Rand just had to make a garrote of Air in front of Clegane’s throat, and it would’ve been over.
Here is my version of the fight. Or as I like to call it My Ode to Deus ex Machina. Enjoy!
The man in the Green coat fled down the alley, but Gregor did not follow. He had what he needed, it was nearly time for the match. These fools, had they thought him so stupid, that he would not learn everything he could about this al\Thor, this so called Dragon. The pompus fool had actually forced this battle in his world, the world that contained all of his weak points
***
Rand stood in the middle of the ring, it was perhaps 50 paces long and ten wide. It was sourounded by a viewing stand wich was packed with on lookers. It was a three sided stand, the fourth sid was open, the Stone of Tear served as a back drop. He had setup protective wards around the ring to keep the onlookers safe. They all screamed and cheered. Many cheered for him, while many screamed for his head, and some just screamed for the shear exiliration of it all. Rand was calm, perhaps the only one in the arena who was, he stood with a sword in his hand, and his brown coat, which had the first three buttons undone due to the heat in Tear, flaped in the wind. Suddenly the crowd grew silent, and another calm man stode into the arena.
This man’s height was greater then that of an Aiel, and he was wider and more muscular then Master Luhan from back home. He was dressed in full plate armor and held a two-handed broad sword in one hand, and carried a shield of unadorned steel in the other. He stoped 10 paces form Rand. He finally understood why they called this man a Mountain. He truely was
.
‘Are you ready to die little Dragon?’ the Mountain said with a tone of amusement in his voice.
‘No, Gregor. I’m ready to live. Are you?’ Rand said, his voice Icy from the Void. ‘You who have taken almost as many inocent lives as myself. Do you bring nothing but death? Have you anything good to offer any world? You are nothing Gregor and soon you will return to it’.
‘Enough of your bable, al’Thor. Let this begin’
‘Very well Gregor’
Rand reached out to Saidin and channeled, weaving Air and Fire and hurled them at the Mountain. He reacted quickly, rasing his shield he blocked the weave. He was forced back but kept his feet. The shield had stoped most of the damage and seemed unharmed. Gregor began to circle Rand imedeately, closing and keeping to Rands left, near his weak point.
Rand began circling the Mountain, using the sword forms Lan had taught him. This Mountain was fast for one so large. He wove Earth and Fire and pushed them at his opponent but the shield some how blocked it. Rand quickly wove a gateway to the other end of the ring and steped through, this Mountain had some tricks up his sleeve, he needed distance.
Rand raised his voice ‘Where did you get that shield Gregor, if I may ask?
‘
The Mountain seemed to laugh and shouted ‘As soon as I got here a woman was waiting for me, she handed it to me and steped through one of those gateways of yours. Not a friend to you I’d say. I dont know who it was but I thank them all the same. What is it?’
‘Cuendillar, no amount of force can harm it and any damage it recieves only makes it stronger, not even Balefire can harm it. Very clever, but it wont be enough to defeat me.’ Suddenly Rand chaneled air, he sharpened it like a razor and drove it at the Mountain. But when the the weaving touched him it evaporated. Rand actually gasped. Mat’s medallion he thought, oh light let him be alright.
‘This world of yours is not unknown to me Dragon. There is a Dornish man who speaks often of you and your friends. I learned of these tales. This Matrim Cauthon and his trinket, seemed to be a wonderful way to neutralize your powers.’ with that Grergor charged, Rand did the only thing he could. He charged the Mountain that Rides and met him Blade to Blade.
The fight was fierce, Rand flowed through the forms but this man fought diffrently. His way was of brute force and energy in motion. It was blocky but very effective, soon all Rand could do was retreat while Gregor pushed harder and harder. The size of his sword kept Rand off balance and coupled with his inexperience fighting one-handed, Rand was losing this fight badly. Only his expierence in battle kept him alive, but his time would run out soon. He needed to think. If Gregor had Mat’s Medallion than the one power was useless, he was too skilled of a fighter for Rand to take in combat. Rand did the first thing that came to mind, he wove air around Gregors shield alone and flung it across the ring, The Mountain was tossed aside with the shield like a rag doll.
When Gregor hit the hard pavement of the ring he did so with a humungus crash sending chuncks of pavement into the air. Gregor splayed out on the pavement but quickly began to rise. In a blink the Mountain was charging Rand again. Rand siezed the shield and hurled it across the Ring. This time it sounded like an actual mountain had fallen when Gregor hit the pavement, but still he did not release the shield. Rand seized the shield again, he sent it strait into the air with a Mountain of steel attached to it, 30 paces strait up. This time the crash was deafening. The Mountain lay motionless but Rand was relentless, he seized the shield but Gregor spun lose from it and threw something at Rand. Was it smoking? As the object came closer Rand realized what it was. He chaneled air at it, but- BOOM- it was to late. The Illuminator’s firework exploded feet from Rand’s chest. He was now the one who was hurled across the ring.
***
Gregor was almost to his feet when the explosion went off. He was in pain, he had never imagined being tossed about like an infant. He knew now what many of his victim’s had felt, at his hands. He did not like it. But Gregor was powerful as well and he knew what to do against powerful oponents. You just keep pushing. He had pushed this al’Thor down effectively enough. This Dragon faught feircely and was well named. But he was Ser Gregor Clegane, he was a Knight.
al’Thor was stunned and confused as he rose to his knees. He had droped his sword and was obviously off balance. Gregor charged the wounded Dragon. He grasped his sword in both hands and raising it as he charged. The Knight would sever this Dragon’s head and be done with it.
***
Rand awoke to a ringing in his ears and silence all around him. He knew he was in danger but couldn’t actually remeber why. He tried to rise but it was very hard to move anything. Saidin had fled him and he tried to assume the void but the rining in his head stoped him. He got to his knees slowly blinking away the dizzininess when he saw the Mountain upon him. He some how assumed the void and siezed Saidin as the Great sword swung at his neck. Rand wove Air and wraped a thin shield around his head and torso. Gregor’s sword rebounded off the shield and Rand collapsed from the force of it. Gregor swung the sword again at Rand but he kept the shield in place as it absorbed the damage.
Gregor droped his sword and threw a punch that connected flush with Rand’s face as he lay on the Ground. His nose was crushed as his head was caught in the pinch. Blood splatered around his head. The Mountain reared back with all his might, then Rand, in a move of total desperation. Using Air drove a loose peice of stone the size of a pumpkin against the Mountains head. Standing him starit up and bending him backwards as he stumbled. His helmet was forced off and it tried to take his head with it. Rand realized it in an instant ‘I can hit him with thrown objects.
It began with peices the size of a mans head. Rand hurled them, pounding the Mountains armor. Gregor was forced back. Soon he turned and ran for his abadoned cuendillar shield. Rand started hurling bigger pieces, but the Mountain did not slow. Quickly he had his shield again and was defending Rand’s atacks, slowly working his way forward under the shield. Rand began ripping up patches of pavement slab, earth and rock. Pounding Gregor over and over. Rad kept the deluge flowing, his vision was blurry but Rand resolved to see this Mountain buried under the ring. Rand picked up a peice of pavement and rock much larger then even Gregor. He slamed it down on his head. He collapsed and was traped under the slab. Rand began driving a column of air down on it, repeatedly hammering it and Gregor into the ripped and torn earth. Rand slamed the column down one last time with all the force he could muster and the slab shattered.
Rand stood stareing at the remnatnts of the ring. heaps of earth and rock were piled all around, deeply near the edges where the wards had ket the on lookers safe. Of Gregor there was no sign. He was buried some where in the rubble. The crowd stood stuned, they had not expected a fight of this maginitude, neither had Rand for that matter.
Rand began to speak when suddenly the rubble churned. The Mountain that Rides slowly stood up from his grave. His armor was craked and in many places it had crumbled away. Mat’s fox head medallion was visible on his chest. Rand slouched exhaustedly as Gregor regained his feet. Could anything kill this man? He was exhausted, he held the power still, but could barely do anything with it. Slowly and for the second time the two fighters began to circle. Neither warrior had a weapon, Gregor scaned the ring for his sword and shield while Rand sought his own out.
Gregor charged Rand, decideing to just beat him to death. Gregor was almost on a reatreating Rand when he saw it. His sword, he chaneled a thin flow of air and floated it to his hand. He asumed Heron Wading in the Rushes without thought. As Gregor closed with him he plunged his blade into the Mountains heart, as the Mountains fist conected with Rands two never healing half healed wounds. Rand cried out in agony, Gregor would have also but his mouth filled with blood as he colapsed to the earth dead. Rand fell as well, moaning and shivering. The One Power fled him and all the pains from his wounds coalesced and crashed down upon him. Suddenly he felt hands on his face, he felt Saidar being chaneled near him. It was acompanied by an oath about foolish men and the hair on their chests.
When Nynaeve’s healing was complete Rand al’Thor stood. His coat and breech’s were burned and in tatters, dried blood covered his face. He was still the champion but to look at him you would never have thought he was the victor in this. In a dance such as this one, there were no victor’s, just the living and the dead.
This isn’t a fair cage match; Rand would incinerate him.
In Wheel of Time Rand has good reasons for unifying people, and not just nuking the face of anyone he doesn’t like; he knows he has to die, and wants the age after his death to be one of peace and unity. But if you just put him in a cage match with no goals except to win a 1v1, he’ll blow his opponent up. It’s no contest.
@Trench.
Nice write up.
Also, As to Brock’s write up… Not bad, but Gregor Clegane, for all of his many faults, does in fact have the best line ever for anyone who meets him in combat and queries some version of “Do you know who I am?”
Gregor would reply; “Some dead man…”
Let the Dragon Ride again on the Winds fo Time.
Here it is: The Demigod Rand al’Thor vs. a normal (if somewhat large) guy in armor. Why is there any debate on the victor??
Hrmn, doesn’t seem to have the same kind of interest and excitement as the last cage match. Any word whether or not Sanderson or Martin is going to do a write-up on this?
Okay, this is very pro-Rand, but I really don’t see the fight here. On one side you have a guy who is tall, fearless and can wield a two-handed sword in one hand. Good for him. But on the other hand you have a guy who can channel the One Power (think using magic) in such proportions as to level mountains. AND he’s a bladesmaster. The disadvantages noted under Rand (one hand, two neverhealing wounds) doesn’t come in to the fight unless he actually loses, seeing as you don’t need hands to channel and the pain from the wounds would be dealt with by the Void.
The only way Rand could lose, as I see it, is if he somehow were unable to channel. And even then he’d have his sword to rely on. But if Rand couldn’t channel, this wouldn’t be a fair fight, and we might aswell say that The Mountain loses all his strength and can’t wield his sword either.
As said, I have no idea if this is supposed to be a fair fight where the two “blunder” into eachother by some freak accident, or a set fight where they each get time to judge their opponent and prepare for the fight.
that was dumb writing i wrote a better piece but i dont apply to all the rules of entry darn
Wotfanboy, I think we should reduce this battle down to a spelling contest to see who wins.
Rand Won
All hail the Lord Dragon!
When is the official declaration of the winner??
Well everyones decided to talk about the basic weaves. I see something a little different. This is over a month over and I’m not writing a full story, but this is how I see it.
“Rand channels a gateway and sends the man 10000ft in the air”
…thats it….ya…..
Anyone who voted for Rand is a tool. Wheel of Time sucks, and it sucked before Jordan died.
Try not being a teenager or an early twenties douche and read something with actual substance. Reading about an invincible God is just about as boring and predictable as it can get… and is only for the immature.
Come now, insulting an entire fan base for voting for Rand? I’m sorry you don’t like Robert Jordan’s writing style but that is no reason to attempt to insult everyone who does. And Rand might be almost unbeatable, but hes going up against a foe against which power itself is meaningless, a foe who’s mere touch can corrupt the world, cause food to rot, stop the seasons, create never-ending cloud cover… All in all Rand has to be that strong because the big bad he is up against is even stronger.
and if you call the Wheel of Time books without substance you would be very hard pressed to find any books with substance, then.